The prime minister yesterday met the all party parliamentary delegations, after their return over last week, sent to various countries to present India’s stand on the recently concluded Operation Sindoor. Like all his engagements, this also made for a good photo opportunity and visuals. There were visuals of the MPs greeting the Prime Minister with shawls and other gifts. It looked like a festive occasion rather than a serious stock taking meeting. While the entire exercise of sending all party delegations was questionable and decided unilaterally by the government and even the choice of delegates was not sought from the opposition parties, it was supported as a symbolic display of solidarity at a difficult moment. The results were not surprising though, very few incumbent leaders met the delegations and no official statements were issued, neither jointly nor after the delegations had left. The international cold shouldering after the gruesome Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor remains a challenge for our foreign policy. Though Mr Tharoor managed to meet vice president JD Vance, no official statement was made there either. The prime minister has since not bothered to meet the opposition leaders, with whose support he had sent these 70 member strong delegations. He did not even attend the two all party meetings convened on the issue and was busy campaigning instead. This does not inspire confidence on his already questioned democratic credentials. The aftermath of the operation and its abrupt ceasefire is complex and might have long term implications. The government should immediately convene a special session of parliament or at least schedule a few days in the upcoming monsoon session to discuss the aftermath, if not the operation itself. It’s time a third term government shows some grace and engages the opposition better.
All form and no substance
